In what seems to be a battle of its own making, Warner Bros is poised to take the number one spot at the box office this weekend with its new DC superhero film, Blue Beetle. The movie is expected to have an opening weekend of $28 million to $32 million, which would end Barbie’s three-week streak at the top. Meanwhile, industry sources predict that Barbie will earn $22 million to $24 million in its fourth weekend, a 30% decrease. As of Monday, Barbie has already accumulated $531.2 million in box office revenue since its release, demonstrating its popularity among audiences.
Blue Beetle, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, has been performing exceptionally well with Latino and Hispanic audiences. This demographic has shown strong support, making it likely that there will be significant walk-up business for the film. Warner Bros experienced a similar success with The Meg 2: The Trench, which exceeded expectations with a $30 million start thanks to walk-up audiences. To ensure a wide reach, Blue Beetle will be screened in 3,850 locations, including IMAX theaters, Dolby Cinemas, premium large formats (PLFs), drive-ins, and motion seats. Previews for the film will begin on Thursday afternoon at 2 PM, signaling the studio’s confidence in its potential success.
Compared to last August, which suffered from delayed releases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this August has seen a significant boost in box office performance. According to Comscore, the summer of 2023 has generated $3.6 billion in box office revenue from May 5 to August 13. This represents a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and is only 5% lower than the pre-pandemic numbers from 2019. The recovery of the movie industry is evident as audiences return to theaters, eager for new cinematic experiences.
Universal Pictures is also introducing a new wide release this weekend, the R-rated comedy film Strays. Directed by Josh Greenbaum and produced by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Erik Feig, Strays features the voice talents of Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Will Forte, and Randall Park. This potty-mouthed comedy is expected to perform well, considering Universal’s historical success with comedies in the August time frame. Previous hits like Bring It On (2000), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), and Good Boys (2019) have performed exceptionally well during this period. The female-centric Strays is generating a significant amount of unaided awareness, matching the levels observed for Good Boys. Previews for Strays will begin on Thursday at 5 PM, and the film will be screened in over 3,000 locations.
Universal’s Oppenheimer, currently in its fourth weekend, is projected to earn $12 million to $13 million, according to industry sources. The film has already accumulated $266.9 million in ticket sales as of Monday. Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, in its third weekend, is eyeing an earnings range of $10 million to $12 million. The animated feature, based on the popular Nickelodeon property, has already earned $74.1 million and is experiencing a surge in retail sales, surpassing $1 billion for 2023.
MGM is releasing Cory Finley’s sci-fi drama, Landscape With Invisible Hand, in a limited capacity, debuting in 304 theaters. The film, based on the novel by M.T. Anderson, is produced by Plan B and Annapurna. It premiered at Sundance earlier this year, showcasing a unique story set in a world where aliens have taken over Earth and rendered human jobs obsolete. The film follows the story of two teenagers who exploit the Vuvv’s curiosity about human love for financial gain. With notable performances from Asante Blackk, Kylie Rogers, and Tiffany Haddish, the film has received positive reviews, earning a 74% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Blue Beetle’s anticipated opening is set to challenge Barbie’s box office dominance, attracting Latino and Hispanic audiences with its DC superhero storyline. August is proving to be a successful month for the movie industry, with strong box office performance compared to last year. Universal Pictures is also hoping for success with the release of Strays, a comedy film with a talented voice cast. Oppenheimer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem are expected to continue their steady performance at the box office. Additionally, the limited release of Landscape With Invisible Hand presents audiences with a captivating sci-fi drama. Moviegoers have a diverse range of options to choose from this weekend, ensuring an exciting and competitive box office landscape.